American man wins a Boston Marathon to remember

Monday

Apr 21, 2014 at 9:05 PMApr 22, 2014 at 2:24 AM

Meb Keflezighi of San Diego ends a 31-year dry spell by the American men to capture the 118th Boston Marathon Monday. In the women's division, Rita Jeptoo of Kenya blistered the course in record time to win her third Boston crown.

Paul KenneyEnterprise Correspondent

BOSTON – Boston Strong indeed!

In a picture perfect Patriots Day, in arguably the most significant marathon since 490 B.C. when Pheidippides ran from the Plains of Marathon to the city of Athens informing its citizenry of the Greek victory over Persia then promptly expiring, it was a 38-year-old from San Diego, Meb Keflezighi, who stormed down Boylston Street before an ecstatic crowd to capture the 118th Boston Marathon crown in the “Athens of America.”

His stunning victory in a personal-best time of 2:08:37 ended a 31-year dry spell by the American men, which had stretched back to Greg Meyer’s 2:09:00 in 1983. In fact, Meyer was one of the first at the finish line to greet the new champion, who can add Boston to his resume that includes the New York City Marathon title in 2009 and a silver medal in the 2004 Olympics.

“Boston Strong, Meb Strong. I was saying God give me energy, God give me the spirit,” said the newly minted Boston champ, who blessed himself as he turned onto Boylston Street, then burst into tears after crossing the line 11 seconds ahead of a closing Wilson Chebet of Kenya.

“Boston really needed this victory. It’s 31 years later. It’s beyond words,’’ said Keflezighi, who maintained the lead for much of the race. ‘‘I’m so lucky and the crowd was phenomenal, chanting ‘USA, USA,’ and ‘Go Meb’ the entire way. Before today I would say my career was 99.9 percent complete, but with this Boston victory it’s 110 percent complete.”

An estimated 1 million spectators lined the famous course, cheering on a 26-mile unbroken ribbon of 35,755 runners that stretched from Hopkinton to Boston and demonstrated to the entire world the resilience of Boston one year after the bombings that left three dead and more than 260 injured.

In the women’s division, reigning champion Rita Jeptoo of Kenya, who blistered the course in a record time of 2:18:57, won her third Boston crown, becoming only the fourth woman to do so.

The men’s wheelchair division was won by South African Ernst Van Dyk (1:20:36) for a record 10th time and reigning women’s wheelchair champion Tatyana McFadden, nicknamed “The Beast,” won her second consecutive title on her 25th birthday in 1:42:35, nearly four minutes ahead of the second-place finisher.

This year an additional gold-dipped laurel wreath belongs to the city of Boston, which put on an emotional spectacle with a vibe that felt like a combination of the Fourth of July, New Year’s Eve, and a championship parade all rolled into one.

“Boston Billy,” four-time champion Bill Rodgers, had this to say about the remarkable day.

“It couldn’t be better, to tell you the truth. You know, Meb’s race, which was grand, was meant to be. The whole day was special, beautiful. Everybody got it. The city got it. New England got it. And eighty countries participated in this race, so the world got it.”

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, presiding over his first Boston Marathon, echoed those sentiments. “This, today, is the greatest marathon in the history of Boston. When I placed the wreath on the men’s winner, I was filled with an overwhelming sense of joy and pride. Meb was the first American winner in 31 years and it was the first time a Boston Mayor has placed a wreath on the head of an American winner since Kevin White,” he said.

But it was the runners from all over the world enveloped in that Boston Strong spirit who ruled the day.

Quincy’s Paul Rogan who ran his fifth Boston race in a time of 4:34 said, “It was the only marathon that I’ve run that I didn’t want to end. It felt like a victory lap. It was the greatest and the crowd just packed the course. In fact, I high fived every cop thanking them from Heartbreak Hill on in and, as I approached Kenmore Square, it became very emotional for me.”

Gary Allen from Cranberry Island, Maine, who ran his 22nd Boston in 2:58:38 called the crowd ‘‘epic.’’ ‘‘If there were 10 people on the hills, there was a half of million. It was palpable, that we are taking our city back. I just witnessed Boston Strong.”

Matt Radtke of Merrill, Wis., running his first Boston and finishing in 2:55:16, said, “It was nothing like any other marathon I’ve run. I’ve never been in crowds like that. It made you forget all your pain at that point.”

Steve Michalski from Salt Lake City, Utah, who ran his third Boston in 2:53, said, “It was awesome. It was a Boston Strong mantra finish from start to finish. I just want to stay out and enjoy all of this. We definitely took back the finish line today.”

Jame Spiere, also from Salt Lake City, who ran her third Boston in 3:28, said, “I love, love Boston. I run six to eight marathons a year, but this is the one that I come to enjoy. It was crazy loud coming down Boylston Street, very emotional, filled with tears.” .

Ron Kelly from Seattle, Wash., who finished his third Boston in 3:12 said, “The unity and camaraderie was wall to wall the whole way. This is a fantastic city”

And Juliana Cerize from Brazil, who ran her second Boston in 3:14, said, “This is the best race, you could feel the spirit of the city.”

The new American men’s champion captured the day succinctly, pointing to his heart he said, “I wanted to do this for Boston. I prayed a lot to do it for the people.”